5 Ways to Keep Kids Happy and Productive at Home

It’s been several weeks since “home” turned into “work-from-home” and “school-at-home,” but families are still adjusting. They’re still trying to find that delicate balance between social distancing and, well, sanity. Our podiatrists, Dr. Megan L. Oltmann and Dr. Craig B. Frey have a lot of compassion for anyone trying to attend work conferences from home, while simultaneously keeping the kids safe and on-task. Here are 5 suggestions to help you through:

Give the kids some say in their schedule. Most kids do well with an established routine, and they do even better if they have a vested interest in planning it. Put all ideas on the table – yours and theirs. Work together to establish a daily schedule that you all can accept.

Scour the internet for free learning tools. Whatever their teacher has assigned can probably be expanded through online resources. Kids can also delve into their passions more easily than ever. For example, if they love art and music, take advantage of the free activities posted by various arts organizations. Your child can take a virtual tour of a famous museum, stream a professional opera production, listen to the Cleveland Orchestra online, or learn to draw with the creator of “Captain Underpants.” Finally, kids who study the sciences will find our own patient education library to be an excellent source of information about human anatomy and physiology.

Include recess. Physical activity is vital for kids, and even more so if they’re feeling confined to four walls. Schedule regular breaks, including the time to kick a ball or toss a Frisbee around. (Make sure they protect their feet with the proper athletic shoes.)

Put them in charge of dinner. Use this time at home to teach kids how to cook creative, healthy meals.

Focus on the positive. Things may not always go smoothly. But take the time to thank your kids for respecting your workspace, for completing a tough assignment, or doing something nice for their sibling.

As we look forward to the end of the pandemic, we continue to serve residents of Cuyahoga, Summit, Portage, and Geauga Counties as needed here at Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland. Call us in Solon, Ohio, at (440) 903-1041 or contact us online with your questions or concerns about your foot and ankle health.